Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 November 2014
4. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the interaction he has had with representatives of the salmon farming industry in the past year; the main issues they raised with him; if he has met any delegations from companies representing this industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43096/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister knows, I have serious concerns, which I have expressed previously, about the dual role he plays in regard to aquaculture. His Department is meant to promote aquaculture, but on the other hand he is the policeman who issues licences. Will he outline to the House the discussions he has held with the aquaculture industry in the past year?
I have had many discussions with various players and stakeholders in the area of aquaculture as this is something Deputies and Ministers do all the time. I speak of discussions with non-governmental organisations, people with concerns relating to licensing systems and companies. This is part of my job as the Minister with responsibility for the marine, aquaculture, fisheries and the development of a sustainable industry with a licensing system appropriate to sustainability. I act on the basis of the legal, scientific and environmental advice on applications that I receive from other State agencies. We have a strict process for this and the interaction between my Department, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the environmental pillar and other stakeholders shows I listen to everyone. It is my job to listen and put policy in place and ensure the licensing system functions appropriately. I am involved in the licensing system but it also has an independent appeals process.
I think Deputy Ó Cuív may be referring to recent media reports on a meeting I had with Marine Harvest. On 30 January I met with representatives of Marine Harvest Ireland. The meeting was chaired by the Taoiseach, and officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department were also in attendance. The meeting was held at the request of the company to discuss licensing and industry development issues associated with the company's operations in Ireland.
As is appropriate, it was explained from the outset that specific applications which the company submitted to my Department for consideration could not be discussed in detail in view of the statutory basis of the assessment process. It was also made clear that the Galway Bay licence issue could not be discussed, and I know the Deputy is concerned about this, although it has nothing to do with Marine Harvest. It was felt that such a discussion would not be appropriate and it is important to be upfront about these things. I often meet companies to encourage job creation and investment in Ireland and I also meet people with interests in the aquaculture industry. Equally, I meet people with concerns relating to the aquaculture industry to ensure the licensing system functions properly.
I asked if the Minister would provide details of his interactions with the salmon farming industry in the past year and the main issues raised. I also asked him to outline whether he has met delegations from companies representing the industry. The Minister's reply is totally inadequate. He referred to a meeting that took place on 30 January because he knows the minutes of that meeting were made available through a Freedom of Information Act request and are a matter of public record. Has the Minister had other meetings with people in the salmon farming industry? I did not ask anything about Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, or any other body. If the Minister had other meetings with people in the salmon farming industry, when did they take place in the past year and what companies were involved?
I note that the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, attended the meeting referred to and it is not normal for a backbencher, which he was at the time, to do so. Did Deputy McHugh attend any other meetings or did he request other meetings on behalf of salmon farming companies in the past year?
I think Deputy Ó Cuív is trying to create smoke where there is none. I understand Deputy McHugh attended the meeting because the headquarters of Marine Harvest, where many people are employed, is in his constituency. I do not remember the details but I suspect Marine Harvest requested a meeting with the Taoiseach and me through Deputy McHugh. I believe such a request was also made directly to the Taoiseach. The international CEO of Marine Harvest was in Ireland at the time and it is not unusual for a Deputy from a constituency affected by such a meeting to attend, especially given that, in this case, he was asked to facilitate the meeting.
I went to Bergen in Norway for the North Atlantic Seafood Forum and, while there, I had a number of meetings with salmon farming interests, including Marine Harvest, and other companies. It is easy to send the Deputy the details of these meetings as minutes were taken at all of them, as far as I can remember. Such meetings are merely examples of me doing my job as a Minister who is trying to promote Ireland as a location for food and aquaculture investment. I made it very clear at all of the meetings, with Marine Harvest and the other entities, that the licensing system in Ireland is tough. We are trying to put a fair system in place that can allow applicants get fair consideration and reassure people that the licensing process is sufficiently robust. I have a responsibility to perform a balancing act in this regard and I take it very seriously.
The Minister will confirm therefore that he is responsible for granting and refusing licences. What did Marine Harvest mean when it requested that a champion, as it put it, be put in place? Was this the reason Deputy McHugh became the Minister of State with responsibility for both Gaeltacht affairs and, strangely, natural resources? We know Údarás na Gaeltachta supported the salmon farming industry. Is the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, the champion Marine Harvest sought in the Government?
Not yet.
No, Deputy McHugh was appointed as a Minister of State with responsibility for areas relevant to his constituency. This applies to the promotion of the Irish language and his other responsibilities. Regardless of who is Minister of State, my job is to ensure there is a robust and legally sound system whereby my Department considers applications in conjunction with the relevant agencies and other Departments, especially the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
What about the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources?
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is also consulted.
It is even more important that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is also consulted as it has IFI-----
The Minister has the floor.
Deputy Ó Cuív is correct but the evidence is that I have not granted a single salmon farming licence in three and a half years. He seems to be accusing me of being a patsy to the industry who waves licences through. Not one such licence has been granted. Only in the shellfish sector have licences been granted because we are putting in place a system that works, unlike the previous Government, which made a bags of it. We assess many bays that are special areas of conservation.
I take a very cautious approach to salmon farming because there are concerns in the area but I promote the right type of salmon farming. I want to ensure it is done properly and in a sustainable way in order that we can stand over it on a licensing and from an environmental perspective. This is how I make decisions.
